Sharad Pawar slams CM Fadnavis for ‘ignoring’ plight of farmers, says ‘learn’ from Nepal’s situation

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday (September 15, 2025) slammed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his “ignorance” towards the plight of farmers.

Addressing a rally in Nashik district, Mr. Pawar said, “If things don’t change in the coming days, the rally will be bigger in future. We will not be bystanders.”

He said that the Chief Minister should look at Nepal’s political situation and “learn”. 

Referring to banners in Mumbai that address Mr. Fadnavis as ‘Devabhau’, Mr. Pawar attacked the Chief Minister for his agricultural policies and said, “Devabhau, you were taking the blessings of Shivaji Maharaj in the banner. During Maharaj’s time, he resolved the drought situation by giving gold coins and ploughs to support farmers. You invoke Shivaji Maharaj’s name but ignore the concerns of farmers.”

“Maharashtra received the highest rainfall, affecting agriculture. Farmers’ lives have come to a standstill,” he said, adding, “Why do farmers die? Because the government does not take responsibility for resolving the crisis.”

The rally, called ‘Jan Akrosh’, was part of Mr. Pawar’s three-day visit to Nashik from where he started the party’s campaign for the upcoming local body elections.

Barmati MP and Mr. Pawar’s daughter, Supriya Sule, criticised the State government and said, “During former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s tenure, ₹70,000 crore loan was waived off. Today, nothing is happening. If, within a month, the loan waiver is not granted, then we won’t let the government move freely.”

Recalling the UPA government’s tenure, Mr. Pawar said that when he was the Union Agriculture Minister he came across a farmer who had committed suicide in Yavatmal district. “The next day, I requested Manmohan Singh to visit Yavatmal, and we did. We met his family and in 10 days, we waived off the country’s debt of ₹70,000 crores,” he said.